night; we will have to live him down again."

"Stranger," said the collier, "these things may seem strange to you,
but when we came here our lives were haunted by the red giant that has
gone out into the wood. We knew not what to do, but we sent for the old
pastor, and he said: 'Good forester, you can live him down. Think only
good thoughts, speak only good words, do only good deeds, and he will
become smaller and smaller, less and less. Harbor no evil-minded person
in your house. You may one day live him out of sight, and change him
angel.' We had almost lived him down!"

"But what was he?" asked the merchant.

"He was our Visible Temptation."

In the morning the merchant hurried away.

Ten years passed. The merchant chanced to travel through the same forest
again. Night was coming on, and he recalled the collier's house.

He went to it again. He knocked and an old man met him at the door.

"Thou art welcome," said the old man. "We are not forgetful to entertain
strangers. What wouldst thou?"

"Supper and lodging," said the merchant.

"They shall be yours. We offer hospitality to all."

He was Herman, the collier. He did not recognize the merchant.